Page 32 of Outplayed

“All right.” I grinned.

It wasn’t until the second movie about some rat cooking that I noticed Izzy yawning more and more. “Kiddo,” I called.

“Yes, Daddy?”

“It’s time for bed before you yawn your face off.”

She giggled. “I can’t yawn my face off.”

“With the amount of yawning you have going on, I wouldn’t be surprised. Say goodnight to Violet, princess, and I’ll come up with you and get you into bed.”

“But—”

“Izzy,” I said.

Her mouth clamped closed. My daughter rolled her eyes and sighed. “Okay.” She got to her knees, wrapped her arms around Violet’s neck, while Violet hugged her back with her arms around Izzy’s waist. “Night, night, Miss Violet.”

“Goodnight, Izzy. I loved spending time with you.”

Izzy pulled back. “You did?”

“Yes, honey.”

Izzy beamed. “Yay. Means you’ll come back. Right?”

“Of course I will.”

Izzy leaned in, kissed Violet quickly on the cheek, and bounced off the couch. She made her way to the doorway. “Daddy, I’ll see you up there.”

“You will. Violet, would you like to stay longer or….” Her lips thinned and her eyes flashed wide for a moment before she controlled it. I left the choice up to her, unsure if she was ready to be alone with just me or if she wanted to run from the thought of just us alone in the room.

“I should get going.”

Maybe she was scared to be alone with me… or scared of how her body would react if we were alone.

I smiled. “Princess, I’ll just walk Violet to her car.”

“Okay,” she yelled, already headed out of the room. Violet stood and started for the door.

Standing, I followed her. She opened the door and went out. At least she didn’t slam it, but rather, she left it open for me to come after her.

Violet stopped at the driver-side door. She turned, her hands playing with her dress. She fixed her bag on her shoulder, the one she’d left near the front door after giving Izzy her present. As I approached, she cleared her throat.

When a horn started honking, we both faced the gates. My phone rang in the next second. I pulled it out. “What?” I barked, just as Kathleen started yelling my name.

“Sir, Kathleen Stewart is at the gate.”

“No shit,” I answered. “Tell her I don’t want to see her and call the police.”

Violet’s eyes darkened, her jaw clenching.

More honking and yelling.

“That’s fucking it,” Violet snapped. Her bag dropped to the ground, and she headed for the gates.

Ending the call, I quickly slipped my arm around her waist. “Stop. The police are on the way. She’ll get taken in.”

“And probably let out because she’s not exactly on your property,” she fumed.

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